Automatic adjustable bearing.



E. GRAF; AuTomAnc AmusmgLE BEARING. APPLICATION FILED DE (:I.\23.19I6.

1 ,288,'562. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

ad 'tijwuewtoz 3 J51" A1 31; ifNE-E'IALF ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO CHARLES (3.JAMES 11x53 Al GEE-HALF GNE-HUNDREDTHS v. n or ts some, it. Y.,ASSIGNOB, BY nus-nor sun MESNE ass Anson-tame ADJUSTABLE BEAEIIEG.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed December 23, 1916. Serial No. 138,543.

I?) all UZtO/ib it may concern:

Be it known that 1', Earn; Gear, a citizen of Switzerland, and aresident oi the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Adjustable Bearings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic adjustable bearings, and one of theobjects of the invention is to provide a durable and ethcicnt bearing ofthis character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bearin of this kindespecially useful as a' connecting rod hearing by reason of a provisionfor preventing chattering or hammering in the bearing due to momentaryarution of the bearing parts during the d or outward stroke of theconnecting Another object of theinvention is to pro vide a bearing ofthe above character in which certain of the parts that efiect theautomatic adjustment are properly housed and so located that they may bereadily accessible for inspection and repairs without disturbing thebearing proper.

A "urther object of the invention is to so locate the automaticadjustment parts ith r 't to the bearing, that they take up but soacc,and are'well protected from breakage or disarrangement due to the strains to which such parts are subjected.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appearfrom'the fol lowing description taxen in connection with he accompanyingdrawings. showing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The invention consists in the novel fea titres of constructionhereinafter described and more particularly pointcdout in the appendedclaims.

it-et'crring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view, partly insection, ofthc connecting" rod bearing embodyin mv invention: P A

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the same taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 33 is a section, taken on line 3 l; and

ri r. is a section taken on line l-4 of hip. 2. cicri'iluz to the drum-ia c ank l is I I V n. I shalt to Wllllh is secured mus-ting oo,

2 having a bearing support 3 consisting of an upper bearing member 1 anda lower bearing member 5 hinged to the upper mem her at 6. The upperbearing member if is provided with the upper half 7 of the splitPatenter? Dec. 2 5i,

The front side of the upper bearing mem- 7 ber i is provided withflanges 9, 9 having openings therethrough for receiving bolts 10, 10which freely through these openings and are threaded into aiined flanges11, 11 in the lower bearing member, and these bolts are provided withcompression springs l2, l2 surrounding the bolts and located between theheads of the bolts, 13, l3iand the said flanges 9, 9. means of thesebolts and springs the two bearing members are held yieldebly together,the springs 12, 12' acting to draw the lower bearing member upwardtoward the upper bearing member to compensate for wear on the hearings.

in order to hold the lower bearing meniher at all times as far up towardthe upper nearing member as the springs 12, 12" force it during thedownward stroke, and to thus cut transversely through the bearingincinbcr l gust above the bearing 7, and this boll: member 14 is forcedtor-ward under the in:

pulse of a compression spring, 16, the for ward end of which restsagainst the bolt member and the rear end of which rests against. adetachable plug 17 detachably pinned in position by a suitable pin orset screw 18. The bolt member is provided with a suitable check orlocking;- device which permitsvit to move forward due to the spring; butprevents it from. moving bacluvard against the spring" action; and thepresent embodiment of the invention, this loo-ring means consists of ahard steel roller 19 resta between the upper sihfoce 20 of the bolt boltmember 14 (Figs. 1 and 3), sl dably mounted in a guulcway l5- 0 ill!) 2529, -29 rectangular 55 may be readily 60 necting rod, by'the springsguideway and the adjacent inclined surface 21 of a cut-away portion ofthe bolt, and this roller is yield-ably held in position on the inclinedsurface 21 by means of a follower 22 and a compression spring 23. Bymeans of [lllS device the bolt may move forward freely under the actionof the spring 16, but the moment the bolt is forced against the springaction it is prevented from moving backward by reason of the wedgmgaction of the roller'19 on the inclined surface 21.

The hinged lower bearing member is provided with a part extendingupwardly therefrom to the bolt and being provided with a cam surface,preferably an inclined surface, 26, adapted to be engaged by the camsurface, preferably an inclined surface :27, formed on the 'forward endof the bolt. in the particular embodiment of the invention shown, thepart is detachably secured to the lower bearing member in the followingmanner: It is freely mounted on a pin 28, and the ends of this pin(Figs. 2 and a) are provided. with sleeves in outward contour so as tomake a ready and square fit in cut-away iortions or pockets 30, formedon the inner side of the bolt-receiving flanges of the lower bearin Thepart extends up 30 \vardly from the pin 28 through a suitable guideformed on the upper liiearing member, and this guide, as shown in thepresent form of the invention, consists of a guideway 32 cut through thefront of the bearing 35 member 4 and in vertical alinemenl with the bolt11-. The upper end of the projecting part as herein shown, has anopening 3 the upper surface of which provides'the desired cam orinclined surface 26. By this 40 construction, the tension strain on themember 25 isexerted centrally of the member, and the resultant lateralthrust on the member 25 due to the action of the inclined or wedgingsurfaces 26 and 27, is taken up by the relatively large and strong frontportion of the bearing member 4. Likewise, it will i be observedthat'the vertical thrusts or strains on the bolt member 14: are taken upby the relatively large parts of the upper bearing membei' l, and saidbolt member is guided firmly in its movements, and that the said boltmember and its impelling spring, to-

separated during the upward stroke, by reason of the fact that theengaging surfaceszlt and 2'? are held firmly togethenfrn movement byreason of the loclting roller 19.

It will be observed from the foregoing explanation of my invention thatthe extent to.

the bearing parts together; whereas, if the springs 12, 12' are madestronger, they to a greater extent perform the fu ction of drawingthebearing members together and likewise the strength of the spring--16when desired be proportionatcly reduced. in the preferred form of myinvention herein disclosed, I intend that the springs 12. 12' shall. theprime or main means of drawing the bearings together, since the fullforce of these springs acts directly for this purpose. And I then sodesign the spring 16 l: of the sliding bolt member 1% that its mainfunction is simply to force the said bolt member forward into firmengagement with the inclined surface .25, and the part it plays inactually drawing the two members together is comparatively small, and insome instances this spring need only be of sufficient strength tomovethe bolt forward into engagement with the surface 26.

When the bearing is to be take apart, it is necessary to rfease the lockon the bolt member lat so as to move the bolt backward in its guidewayand thus release the projecting part to permit the lower bearing memberto swing downward; and to accom plislrthis, I provide some'suitablemeans getting at the spring n3 roller 19 so as to com rcss the same andallow the roller to move down the inclined surface 21 to permit saidbolt ineml'ier 1% to be moved backward. In the present embodiment of'theinvention, this means consists of a narrow slot 35 cut through the topof the upper bearing member 4 to the guide- Way of said bolt. This slotis flaring so that a sharp tool may be projected therethrough and causedto engage the follower 22 of the roller 19 to force it backward againstits spring 23, permitting the roller to move down the inclined surface,so that with or without the detachable plug 17 and the spring 16removed, the bolt member 14 may thus be moved l'iackward to release thebean ing parts.

bacl: of the lockin or scope of the invention, and while I described theinvention with particu- 21 its preferred form, I aim in the apc iins tocover all such modificachanges. Havino thus described my invention, whati. claim how and desire to secure by Leti Patent, 1S2

device of the character described, tl mation of abearincsupport having21,. therein divided longitudinally of it s, said divided parts beingadapted to b ved together to compensate for wear,

. i uding a part movably mounted on he nearing support and provided witha cam engaging surface cooperating with one of the bearing parts forholding the bearing parts together, a spring for forcing said movablymounted part in one direction to divided bearings closer together,

hold the and a locking device for preventing the rc turn movement ofsaid movable part against the spring, whereby the bearings areautomatically forced together to compensate for wear and mo ntaryseparation of thesam prevchted durmgzoperation.

:2. a device o f the character described, the combination of to bearingmembers one of which is movable toward the other compensate for wear ofthe bearing, means niclnduU a part movably mounted on one of ammo-mincn'ibcrs and cooperating.

bearing member for lmldingand automatically moving the bearing memberstogcl her as the bearing is worn, and means for preventing movement ofthe movai I mounted part in a direction oppowith a part on the othersite to that in which it moves to hold the bearing members together but.permitting its movement in a direction ing members together.

in a device of the character described, the combination of two bearingmembers one of which movablc toward the other to coirnonsatc for wear,means for automativ moving and holding the bearing memlf ers together tocompensate for wear, said means comprising two relatively movableengaging parts and a to/movo said boarsiring, onc of said eng ging partsbcingmountcd on one of the bearing members and one on the other bearingmember. one of said engaging parts being movably mounted on its bearingmember and movable by said spring toward the other ening part, and alocking device cooperatwith said movably mounted engaging topreventmovcmcnt thereof away from he'other engaging part whilepermitting it more toward said other engaging part.

4 in a rvice of the character described, the ombinat ion of two bearingmembers one which is movable tmvard the other to comp: rate for wear, adevice slidably mounted on one bearing member and engaging a partcarried by the ther bearing member so as to hold said bearing memberstogether, a spring for forcing the slidable device into engagement withits said engaging part, and means automatically prevent ing the returnmovement of the slidable devicc against said spring but permitting it tomove responsive to the spring, whereby the wear of the bearing isautomatically compensated for and the bearing members prevented frommomentarily separating.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of twobearing members one of which is movable toward the other to compensatofor wear, a bolt member slidably mounted on one of said bearing membersand having a spring for movin it in one direction, said bolt memberhaving a n inclined engaging surface, a part extending from the otherbearing iicmbcr to the bolt and having an inclined surface adapted to beengaged by the inclined surface of the belt for holding the bearingmembers closer together to automatically compensate for wear as the boltmember is moved by the spring, and locking means for preventing the boltmember from moving against the sprin but permitting said bolt member tomove forward responsive to the spring.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of twobearing members one of which is movablctoward the other to compensatefor wear, a bolt member slidably mounted on one of said bearing membersand having a spring for moving it in one direction, said bolt memberhaving an inclined engaging surface, means detach-ably secured to theother bearing member and extending therefrom to the bolt and having aninclined surface adapted to be engaged by the inclincd surface of.thebolt for forcing the bearing members closer together, and a guide on thefirst bearing member through which said detachably secured'means extendsto prevent lateral movement thereof.

7. In a. device of the character described,

the combination of two bearing members one bearing members together andautomatically taking up the. wear therein, and ineanscoopcrating withsaid last means to prevent said bearing members separating from theposition to which they have been drawn together by said first n'ieans.

8. In a device of the character described,

the combination of two bearing members one of which is movable towardthe other to compensate for wear, a. bolt mcmber shdably mountcd on thetop bcarin g member to move transversely thereof and having a spring formoving it in one directioli; said bolt mono her having an engagingsurface, a part pro jecting from the other member and extendingtherefrom to the bolt, and having a surface adapted to be engaged by themeaning surface of the bolt for holding the bearing members closertogether, at least one of said engaging surfaces being a cam surface,and locking means for preventing the bolt memher from moving against thespring but permitting said boltmember to move forward responsive to thespring.

9. In a device of the character described, the ConlbiniltiOIl of twobearing members one of which is movable toward the other to compensatefor wear, a guideway in oneof'said bearing members, a bolt memberslidably mounted therein and having an engaging surface, a spring actingon said bolt member to move it forward, means detachably secured to thesecond bearing member and extending to the bolt and having a surface atits free end adapted to be engaged by the engaging surface of the bolt,at least one of said engaging surfaces being a cam surface, a guide inthe first bearing member through which said detachable means extends toprevent lateral movement thereof, and locking means operatively relatedto said bolt member to prevent its movement against the spring butpern'iitting its movement in the direction in which the spring forcesit.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of twobearing members one of which is movable toward the other tocompensatefor wear, a guideway in one of said bearing members, a boltmember slidably mounted therein and having an inclined engaging surface,a spring within said guide- Way at the rear of the bolt member andacting thereon to move it forward, means dotachably secured to thesecond bearing menu her and extending to the bolt and having at its freeend an opening therein into which the forward end of the bolt projects,with an inclined surface adapted to be engaged by the inclined surfaceof the bolt, a guide in the first bearing member hrough which saiddetachable means extends to prevent lateral movement thereof, andlocking means within the guideway of the first-mentioned bearing membercooperating with said bolt member to prevent movement of the boltagainst the spring but pi-ri'nitting its movement in the forwarddirection, said locking 'means comprising a roller lying between asurface of the bolt and an ad acent surface of theguidevvay,'one ofwhich is inclined, and yioldable means for holding said roller inposition on the inclined surface.

' 11. in a hearing. the combination of two bearing members one of whichis hinged to the other so as to be movable to compensate for Wear,plurality of bolts passing slidably through a part of one of'saidbcaring-men'il'iers and. threaded into the other bearing member and springssurrounding the bolts and located between the hezulsthereof and theadjacentd-iearing member to hold the bearin members yieldably together,a

ee-sees member and extending "to the bolt and having a surface at itsfree end adapted to be engaged by the cam surface of the bolt.

12. In a bearing, the combination of two bearing members one of which ishinged to the other so as to be movable to compensate for wear, aplurality of bolts passing slidably through a part of one of saidbearing members and threaded into the other hear ing member and springssurrounding the bolts and located between the heads thereof and theadjacent bearing member to hold the bearing members yieldably together,a guidevvay in one of said bearing members, a bolt member slidablymounted therein and having a cam engaging surface, a spring actmg onsaid bolt member to move it forward, means secured to the second bearingmember and extending to the bolt and having a sur face at its free endadapted to be engaged by the cam surface of the'bolt, a guide. in thefirst bearing member through which said dotachable means extends toprevent lateral movement thereof, and locking means operatively relatedto said bolt member to prevent its movement against the spring butpermitting its movement in the direction in which the spring forces it.

13. In a device of the character described, the combimition of a bearingsupport having a bearing therein divided longitudinally of its axis.said divided parts being adapted to be moved together to compensate forwear, means for moving the divided parts of the bearing closer togetherand holding them together. said means including one or more .\[)Illl,-'H acting to draw the said bearing parts closer together and a partmovably mounted on the bearing support and provided with :1 (am engagingsurface cooper atingwith one of thobearing parts for holding the bearingparts together and a spring for forcing said movably mounted part in outdirection lo hold the divided bearings closer together.

ii. in a device of the character described, the combination of in obearing members one of which is movable toward the other to compensatefor wear, means for movin said bearing men'ibers closer together and forholding them together, said means including one or more springs a tingto force the said hearing n'u-mbers together and a device slidablymounted on one bearing member and engaging a part carried by the otherbearing member so as to hold said bearing members together and a springfor forcing the .slidable device into engagement with its said engagingpart, and means automatically pre venting the return? movement of thesiidimages able device against said last spring but perin one direction,said. bolt member having an engaging surface and a part projecting fromthe other member and extending there from to the bolt, and having asurface adapted to be engaged by the engaging surface of the bolt forholding the bearing members closer together, at least one of saidengaging surfaces being a cam surface.

In testimony'whereof, I have signedmy 20 name to this specification.

' EMIL GRAB.

